Daniel Ellsberg and the Public

On the heels of the mistrial, Daniel Ellsberg appeared on a May 20, 1973, broadcast of Meet the Press. Ellsberg served as a lightning rod for public opinion regarding patriotism amidst an unpopular war, the role of citizens in supporting or protesting U.S. policy, and the legitimacy of government secrecy. As these letters reveal, some Americans believed he had acted with a courage that was "rare anymore in the U.S." Others viewed Ellsberg as a "thief, coward, [and] stool pigeon."